Faerie Silver Iron Cold by Vic Malachi is everything a fantasy novel should be and more! The novel follows the life of a girl named Ciar who, after losing her mother to illness, is sent to live on the border of the faerie world with her grandparents. Ciar, called Collis in the old language, is a precocious child who accepts the local children’s dare to cross the stream into the Faerie Woods, meeting an unseelie faerie boy known as Mael. The two of them spend their days together, much to the horror of Ciar’s grandparents who fear the child will be spirited away to the faerie realm never to return.

When Ciar turns thirteen, her absent aristocratic father arranges to send her to school in the city and, despite a promise from Mael that he will be waiting for her when she returns each summer, the unlikely pair do not see one another for five years. As Ciar comes of age and prepares to marry, Mael comes back into her life igniting a breathtaking adventure through the faerie world.

Malachi’s prose is rich with otherworldly detail about faerie superstitions. Ciar and Mael are expertly drawn characters, and readers will delight in watching their relationship unfold over many years. The novel allows readers to cross the boundary between the human and faerie lands alongside Ciar as it explores the difference between striking a faerie bargain and making a conscious choice for love. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

The history of the Fae and the research into the nomenclature makes the first half of this book great. The character building and relationships really pulled me in. Unfortunately, when the main character, Ciar Eckstein begins to travel on horseback or in carriages the narrative was filled with days of landscapes, and complaints about travel. It did not lend to the building of the story, it really bogged it down. There were parts of the story, particularly the romantic relationships after the girls reached young adulthood, that were completely skimmed over. I wouldn't classify this book as a Romance, but it is an integral component of the story. It is hinted at -- there is reference made to not being with child for a certain magical encounter, Ciar's grandmother has an awkward "talk" with her and there are some kisses exchanged, but it is never fully addressed and left an odd space in the reading for me. I read the whole book because I was invested just enough to want to know their end. It was more than a little anti-climatic.

I really enjoyed this book alot it was a super fast read for me it grabbed my attention from the start. I loved Ciar and I loved watching her grow threwout the book as well as Mael. I loved the take on the fae definitely different from what I'm used to reading but I really enjoyed it.

Who doesn’t love a great Faerie storyline! Ciara starts off as a young child who is far braver than most of the adults in the story. Fae touched and able to travel back and forth between two worlds. She meets a young boy Mael and they strike up a friendship that will last forever.

What did I like? The book seems young adult because nothing other than kissing is mentioned. The story is rich and intriguing but some of it is kind of chopped off. I’m not sure if this will be a series or not. Ciara brings other humans to faerie but hopefully they will get a story as well.

Would I recommend or buy? Anyone who loves Fae books will love this story! I enjoyed and would definitely buy it for my collection! Five stars!

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left this opinion.

This story was an interesting one! It took a little to get into it at first because of the growing pains but the MC really grows into a compelling easy to root for lead! She is not afraid to do what is right and who doesn't love that cozy living off of a mother's stories that carry her through.

The scenery and settings were really well done, the movie playing in my head was easily painted with Vic Malachai's writing. I love reading fantasy that includes fae/faeries and elements like that so seeing the difference from the usual tropes and who was good and who was bad made this all the more a fun read! The romance was great too, while no spice this did not take away from anything. Will recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy, fae stories, big character line ups and a good ol fashion clean romance!

“The blast of frigid air hit the little town on the edge of the forest like the first storm of winter, blowing from a land that wasn't there.” (now THAT's how you start a prologue)

“Even if we are not bound by our words the way they are, the Fae cannot own you unless you let them.”

“You are far too interesting to allow the nixies to eat.”

this is my first time reading a book of the faerie sort, and i have to say that i am sufficiently impressed. it got me out of my reading slump, that's for sure. it took me a bit to become fully immersed as with every book, but there was a turning point where it picked up the pace and got me going until i got to the last page. the setting is immediately engaging due to the detailed worldbuilding, but it is never too intense and overwhelming. our lead, lady ciar eckstein, is lovable (and the dangerous, romantic fae boy mael is simply dreamy), her romance with mael is a sweet and wholesome slow burn that gets you rooting for both of them (a healthy relationship can you believe it), and the folklore serves as a great backdrop to the story and the romance. some of the townspeople seem a little flat, but the romance between mael and ciar more than make up for it. there are also a few missed commas here and there, but my eyes skipped over them anyway. faerie silver and iron cold features such beautiful, enchanting writing that is imaginative and descriptive and never tedious. the story that ciar's mother tells her in the beginning is the sweetest, too. vic malachai's work is exciting and enchanting, the stuff of dreams. thank you, netgalley, for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

I have never read anything from this author so I did not know what to expect. I have not seen any mentions if the books on any book sites or in any bookclubs and, after reading this book, am at a loss as to why.

I was so surprised to absolutely fall in love with this book and very happy to have discovered such a wonderful author!

I fell in love with Ciar and Mael. The good vs evil plot was beatifully wove into the story of the Ferie world.

I highly recommend this paranormal fantasy and will be reading more books by Vic Malachi.

First, thank you so much for the ARC in exchange for a review!

I thought this was a fun read and it didn’t take too much time to read either! It was pretty easy to follow, even if a few parts did seem to jump around a bit. In fact, I think the jumping was the only thing that I was uncertain about! I liked the characters and the different response to the story—it seemed like a reasonable amount of people supported it versus being apprehensive. I also enjoyed the friendship and romance between Ciar and Mael! It was a good read truly!

The only reason it isn’t a 5 star is mostly on my end. I’m always a bit hesitant with faerie romances just because it’s out of my typical read, but this one was good. If you like that kind of thing, then this is definitely worth it!

Thank you again for the ARC! I’m grateful to have been able to read it and I really enjoyed it!

After her mother’s death, Ciar is sent to live with her grandparents on the edge of Faerie. While playing with the other children she can’t seem to fight the pull to cross into the magical world. Surely nothing will happen. Let’s find out.

Read if you like: YA high fantasy, fae stories, YA romance, slow burn, friends to lovers, first person storytelling.

Ciar grew up in quite an unusual way for the daughter of such a high-ranking lord. At seven she is suddenly free to frolic through the fields and forests surround her grandparents’ estate. The people of Brinley warn all the children never to enter Faerie. But Ciar is more curious than fearful, not having being raised on the local legends. One dare leads her over the stream and into the strange land. And she finds herself face to face with a young fae boy. Mael is beautiful and strange. And they both have so many questions. Ciar’s visits become more frequent and they form a bond that keeps the whole town waiting for the worst to happen for years. No one can trust a faerie.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a YA fae lover’s dream. There’s magic and mystery, bonds and promises, young love and courtly drama, the pull between the heart and duty and its all wrapped up in a storyteller fashion that is charming. The pair meet as children and make a match before Ciar fully understands the breadth of her decisions. She feels believably 16 and the romance is age appropriate. So don’t expect more than a few kisses. Mael is stoic and mysterious as all good fae love interests tend to be.
I couldn’t give it 5 stars because while the storytelling was fun it was also repetitive at times and I couldn’t tell if that was purposeful of an aural fashion or things that got left behind from edits. Either way, I was mentally pulled from the action.

I also wanted Ciar to have more discussion with Mael in the second half of the book. They were so close as children and then there’s a whole flurry of action (twice) and they’re together but communication isn’t great. And its not a miscommunication trope kind of moment. There’s just a lot going on so I get it but they were able to figure things out before and I missed the dynamic when the romance piece began. Basically, their romance needed more space on the page.

I also wish that some terms were more clearly explained. Some things are, and others we’re left to glean understanding which doesn’t always happen cleanly. This happens with the characters a couple of times as well. We suddenly get a lot of new characters all interacting and it was hard to keep them all straight for a moment there.

So, while this book had some weaknesses it didn’t lessen my desire to see what was in store for Ciar and Mael. Overall, I found it really fun and refreshing. A fantasy book that doesn’t rely on attempting to reinvent folklore. A new, classic fae story for teens!

*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*


I absolutely loved this book. A totally new take on Faerie and fae and I absolutely loved it.

Our two main characters were lovable and addictive.

The story starts us out with them being children and then follows their romance as they get older.

💚 Childhood Friends to Lovers
💚 Only one bed
💚 Touch her and die

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

"Fae gifts always come with a price, sweetheart, especially when they seem free."

I was torn with this book, because while there was a lot to like, a few things were a little off for me. I don't know whether that's a problem with the book or a problem with me and my reading mood recently.

Things I liked:

- the whole depiction of the Fae and Faerie itself. It was so otherworldly and brutal and scary and alien. I really loved this aspect of the book.
- the idea of the land of Faerie existing almost overlapping with human lands, meaning trade was possible
- the depiction of the Unseelie and Seelie courts, and instead of one being 'evil' and the other 'good', both had grey areas because that's just the nature of Fae
- the world setting and world building was very interesting

Things I didn't like as much:

- at times the prose felt extremely dry, and the book felt it lacked any real action or excitement
- there were a lot of characters introduced in quite quick succession and I found myself getting confused about who was who at times
- while the plot itself was engaging, it moved very slowly

Overall, I enjoyed the read but found it fell flat in some areas for me.

She’s a little bit dumb and selfish, but in the end, it was a good story, with potential for a sequel.

I enjoyed this book. The progress throughout her childhood was unique and a nice change from the recent fae books I’ve read. If you like fae read it! Wish I had a Mael in my life. *sigh*

3.5/5

-Friends to Lovers

(There is no spice. It’s a wholesome read)

It’s hard to put in words what I like in the book besides Mael (MMC). The FMC (Ciar) inner dialogue sounded way older than her described age and It had me questioning how old she really was until she left for school. The world building was great I could picture everything the author described from the human side and just a skip across the stream to the Faerie side. As well as the creature that lived there.

I feel like Ciar didn’t really develop much in the book. From 7 to 17 she still felt the same.

I did enjoy how the author implemented storytelling within the story. Those small tale were fun to read.

I personally wished that Ciar could have taken Áine with her since the little girl was benefiting from her care. I also want to know how the Seelie court managed since one of her friends decided to go back and be a breeder and what role Ciar played as consort.

Overall, I did enjoy the book especially when Mael was around. Also, I wouldn’t mind reading about Edela and Cináed’s relationship.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Ciar grows up with, and becomes friends with a Fae, Mael. Promises were made, he disappears, promises are expected to be held to.

Didn't work for me. I found Ciar/Ciara whiny and didn't care much for her throughout the story.

Thank you Net Galley and BooksGoSocial for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book very easy to read and generally quite enjoyable. One thought that I did have was that the plot seemed quite random at times, I didn’t really know where it was going or how it linked with the storyline, although this did make a bit more sense towards the end. Whilst I did like this book, I didn’t think it was that unique compared to other high fantasy novels (I read primarily fantasy books) as it did follow a very similar storyline. I also felt that the slow-pace of the book made it more difficult to read as I tend to prefer medium and fast paced books - obviously many people prefer slow-paced books and this is just my opinion.

The characters were likeable and it was very well written. I read this quite quickly.

If you’re into YA fantasy books this is for you.

I was provided this copy via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I think it's worth noting that this book definitely falls on the lower end of the YA spectrum, in my opinion. It's a little bit more simplistic in scope than what you would expect from an older YA novel so it's definitely better suited for younger YA audiences.

I thought the writing as a whole was pretty good, although there were a few spelling mistakes throughout - not many but still noticeable to a reader.

One of the biggest things I didn't particularly care for was the awkward interactions between Ciar and Mael. I believe the author was just trying to display how vastly different the Fae were from humans in speech, culture, customs, etc., but for being the main love interest of the book there just wasn't much chemistry.

I did like the call back to the prologue later in the book I thought that was an interesting insert and admittedly including that in the prologue did draw me in a bit more than starting with Chapter 1 would have. Though it's not much of a prologue in that it happens later in the book, but I digress.

Another thing I took issue with is that nothing really happens in most of the book in the middle - It's just a lot of talk without anything substantially interesting happening.

I'd say this book is more atmospheric than plot driven and the whole I think this is a good book and younger readers will like it especially for Ciar..

I decided to download this book on a whim, it had a cute premise, and I was looking for something that was not as dark as the books I have been reading recently. This book follows Ciar, who after her mother dies is sent to live with her grandparents in a small town. Her grandparents guard the bridge to Faerie, until one day Ciar accepted a dare and meets Mael, a young Fae boy. What follows is almost a decade of these two growing up together and what happens to them.

Long story short, I started this book at about 9:00 PM the night before. After a few pages I thought I was going to have to really push through to finish the book. Next thing I knew it was almost 3:00 AM and I was more than halfway done with it. This book far exceeded my expectations and I loved every second of the journey.

What I liked: The author’s writing style in general. This book was so much fun to read and the way Malachai easily transitioned between settings and time periods made this book so fluid. In regards to the book itself, the characters were well developed and the interactions between Mael and Ciar were where the writing excelled. While most stories say that the lead female is special, or different, we actually get to see how this impacts Ciar in the future.

To keep in mind: If you are going into this as a heavy romance, you may be disappointed. This book focuses more on the developing relationship between the two characters.

Rating: I loved this book! Ciar and Mael were an amazing couple and I just want to read more about them. I highly recommend checking this book out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

I quite enjoyed this book.

I enjoyed the different ages we got to see Ciara experience her world. I found her earlier years really cute with Mael. Also very "realistic" with the fear of the townspeople regarding Faerie.

I also enjoyed the ending with Ciara and Mael and their life.

I did find myself wanting more during the middle. The friendship she developed didn't entice me and I thought the stakes could've been higher once in Faerie.

Overall the atmosphere was lovely but I wished for a bit more plot or a bit more adventure!

Ciar grew up with stories about magical but dark and dangerous Faerie.

Ciar and her brother are sent to live with their grandparents after their mothers death. Ciar is a wild child who prefers to break the rules and carve her own path despite coming from a prestigious family. She is determined to show her new found friends that she isn’t a “baby” by crossing a stream between the human realm into Faerie where she meets Mael a Fae boy. She of course strikes a bargain with him within hours despite warnings from her grandparents.



I absolutely loved the different take on Unseelie Fae, it was refreshing.
Strong multidimensional characters.
Strong word building

I would have loved to see a little more spice as the books is rated YA/NA.